NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Hartford softball team dropped its doubleheader on the road against Merrimack this past weekend. The Hawks lost game one, 3-2, and fell in game two with a final score of, 4-3. The Hawks fall back down to .500 on the season with a, 6-6 overall record on the early season as Merrimack opens up their 2022 campaign with a, 2-0 record.
MERRIMACK 3, HARTFORD 2
In game one the Hawks got off to a fast start bringing home two runs in the first two innings.
Paige Fedak lined her first double on the season into left field to bring home
Emma Curry from second base and score the game's first run.
Chandler Mitchell followed Fedaks double by drawing a walk. After a failed pickoff attempt thrown by Merrimack's Bry Michitson, Fedak was able to come around and score, bringing the Hawks lead to, 2-0.
Caylee English shut down the Warriors offense through the first four innings of the game. Allowing just two hits and going on a streak of setting down nine Merrimack batters in a row from the second through the fourth. The Warriors offense would break the scoring barrier in the fifth, where English would allow one run to cross the plate. Merrimack continued to pour it on in the bottom of the sixth bringing home two more runs and taking the lead over the Hawks. The lead ended up being insurmountable for Hartford as they dropped game one of the doubleheader with a final score of, 3-2.
MERRIMACK 4, HARTFORD 3
Merrimack was the first team to light up the scoreboard in the final game of the doubleheader. After an RBI single from Madison Cerpa the Warriors would take an early 1-0 lead after two innings. In the top of the third Hartford was able to strike back with force, bringing home three runs in the frame.
Haley Cassidy started it off by lacing her second career triple out to right field which brought home Mitchell and tied up the game at one. With Cassidy on second base, first year standout
Olivia Wolk stepped up to bat and blasted her second home run on the season giving the Hawks a 3-1 lead. Merrimack was able to battle back in the fourth and tie the game up at three after a few fielding miscues were made by the Hawks defense. After back and forth half innings with no runs scored the Warriors would eventually regain the lead in the fifth, leaving the score at 4-3 going into the sixth. Despite valiant efforts from the Hawks offense to mount a comeback, Merrimack's lead would hold still, finishing off the sweep of the doubleheader with a final score of, 4-3.
NEWS AND NOTES
- English (2-1) got the start in game one, throwing five full innings while allowing three earned runs and tallying two strikeouts
- Julianna Kocenski came in for relief of English in the sixth and allowed one hit and one strikeout in one full inning of work
- Fedak lined home her first RBI on the season off a double in the second inning of game one
- Lauren Card (0-3) got the start in game two, throwing four innings while allowing four total runs to cross the plate
- Kocenski came in for relief again in game two for Card and pitched final two innings, allowing just two hits and one walk
- Cassidy laced her second career triple in game two
- Olivia Wolk launched her second homerun on the season, tying Emma Curry for the team lead with two round trippers
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks returns to the diamond for their home opener, hosting a doubleheader against Holy Cross. First pitch is set for Thursday, March 17, at 2:30 p.m.
